“I don’t want to push boundaries or cross any lines, and I don’t want to ask the wrong thing. When you say you don’t want to talk, can I ask why? Any answer you gave could help me make sure I’m covering your back as you move on to better things.”

“Because I’d have to fill you in on years of background and that’s not stuff I want to relive,” I said.

“Ah.”

“Because it’s confidential, because it’s messy, because… as cool as a guy as you can be, you can’t make it better. You can’t give me the answers or guidance I need because there’s a whole ream of things that’s separate and aside from the years of my background that you’d need to get into or know and… I’m going overboard with this.”

“I do want to hear,” he said. “Anything else?”

“That’s mostly it,” I said.

He nodded. He rubbed his head for a second, thinking. “You want company?”

“Nah,” I said. “I’d just be packing the last few boxes. I wouldn’t mind a hand getting them out to the car, just to speed things up when the time comes.”

“You have a car?”

“I’ll get someone off of a listing or something. I’ve got to figure out what I’m doing, so there’s that too. I wouldn’t be good company, while I’m working through all of that.”

“You don’t have to be packed up and gone today,” he said.

“I kind of need to,” I said.

He nodded, rubbing his head again. “I’ll cover the car. I’ll pay the driver.”

“Thank you,” I said.

“You know where to find me. Place is empty, so you can shout from the stairs and I’ll hear you.”

“Right,” I said.

“I’m going to head to my office. I’ve got something to do.”

I gave him a little salute.

Energized by food and coffee, still feeling lightweight, I worked on getting my boxes packed up. Along the way, I slotted my files and folders into the box I’d reserved for the most pertinent factors. The villains of the area, the heroes, and the villains turned hero. The hoods.

The day was warming up. The light from the sun was warm enough to counteract the lower temperature. By midday, if yesterday was any indication, it would be short-sleeves and shorts weather again.

A message popped up on my screen.

♦ Private Messages from Glitzglam:

Glitzglam: game plan. u situate yourself at my place until you have apartment ur happy with. u & I raid ur dads place while he at work, get ur stuff. standard attack formation, I play defense, make sure coast is clear, I support you, u take point and do what u need

I fired off my response. That worked. I had a couch to sleep on.